In a heart-wrenching turn of events, volunteer firefighter Michael Harper found himself defending homes against the devastating bushfires ravaging central Victoria when he received the shocking news over the truck radio: his own house was in grave danger.
Last Thursday, Mr. Harper was deployed as a driver for a CFA strike team, which is a group of firefighters from various regional areas working together to combat the spread of the fires. For more than 24 hours, he had been tirelessly fighting flames across the region, putting his all into protecting the community.
While engaged in a fierce battle against a blaze on Maroondah Highway, he received orders to return to his hometown of Alexandra to help defend it from the approaching Longwood fire. Accompanied by a four-member team, which included a young 20-year-old volunteer and Murrindindi Shire Council Mayor Damien Gallagher, they had just completed a check on Cr Gallagher's property, initially believed to be under threat.
"When we arrived, we were relieved to find that Damien's house had not burned down. However, as we listened to the radio, we heard distressing news that trucks were being pulled back from my address due to the risk posed by gas bottles. It was then that I realized the property they were referring to was my own," Mr. Harper shared.
Upon reaching the street where his home stood, Mr. Harper stepped out of the vehicle and made his way toward his property, rendered speechless by the grim reality that awaited him, as described by Cr Gallagher during an interview with ABC.
"At first, he was understandably deflated, but after a moment, he began providing water to the additional crew members who had also arrived. He’s truly an incredible person," Cr Gallagher remarked.
"He said, 'It’s okay, I can’t change it.'" This statement reflects a profound understanding of acceptance. Mr. Harper articulated, "It’s about making choices, isn’t it? You can spiral into self-pity, or you can focus on the actions needed to move forward."
Recognizing the toll the situation had taken, Cr Gallagher insisted that Mr. Harper’s day fighting fires should come to an end and offered to take him back to the fire station. The two had been combating fires in Ruffy and Terip Terip before moving to protect the area crossing the Maroondah Highway, where conditions were described as "intense" by the mayor.
"We were merely putting a band-aid on a brain injury," Mr. Harper likened the efforts to quell the flames. Although exhausted, he expressed a desire to continue. "Michael came back out of the fire station and said, 'Mate, let’s go again.'"
They were immediately assigned to protect a farm in Acheron that was also under threat, demonstrating Mr. Harper’s unwavering commitment.
"That’s just the kind of person he is," Cr Gallagher said with admiration.
Initially, Mr. Harper had left his home in a rush on Thursday after receiving an urgent call for a strike team driver. In his haste, he didn’t have time to gather any personal belongings. "I got the call for deployment, dashed home, threw on my firefighting gear, and off I went—that was all I had," he recounted.
Both Mr. Harper and his wife Cathie, who is also a volunteer at CFA in Acheron, understood the risks associated with living in a fire-prone area. "We often discussed how likely it was that we wouldn’t be home to defend our property since we would be occupied on the trucks during emergencies," he explained.
With a sense of resilience, Mr. Harper stated, "It is what it is. We acknowledge this reality as members of the fire brigade. We’re now entering a new chapter in our lives, and we’ll approach it positively. That’s simply our duty."
Mr. Harper described the experience of being on the truck with such skilled and capable individuals while actively fighting fires as exhilarating. "Adrenaline keeps us going, and there’s a tremendous pride in our achievements during those hours," he expressed.
Cr Gallagher praised Mr. Harper's driving skills, noting that he navigated through extremely dangerous conditions where visibility was nearly zero. "He was guiding us through flames, pointing the vehicle toward the heat while ensuring we avoided ditches and fences until we could see the fire line to extinguish it. His ability to maneuver us safely was nothing short of remarkable," he highlighted.
As they traveled between Yarck and Merton, Mr. Harper and his dedicated team worked heroically to save both lives and homes, with Cr Gallagher emphasizing Mr. Harper’s significant role in their efforts.
Tragically, Mr. Harper isn’t alone; several other volunteer firefighters in Alexandra have faced similar circumstances, having lost their homes while continuing to fight against the flames. "Michael’s story is far from unique; many volunteers are still battling the fires while grappling with the uncertainty of their own homes," Cr Gallagher noted, extending admiration to all volunteers who bravely place themselves in harm's way, fully aware of the peril their own homes might face.
